Africa And Cancer: Preparing For The Next Epidemic

Abstract

It is my singular honour to deliver this guest lecture to a distinguished audience under the auspices of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS). Essentially tagged first quarter lecture in 2012, it can be likened to a state of the Union Address to the nation through NAS. I am proud to be a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), the foremost scientific organization in Nigeria with the aim of promoting the growth, acquisition, and dissemination of scientific knowledge and to facilitate its use in solving of major problems of national interest. I am also aware that our President is likely, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, to assume office as the next Chair of the African Union and have taken the liberty as President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) to deliver a sermon on Cancer to Africa on this occasion. I thank the President, Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe FAS,and the entire fellows of the Academy for the honour bestowed on me. I also thank my Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, who graciously accepted to chair this occasion at such notice despite his busy schedule.

Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. Africa with a landmass of about 30.2 million km2 (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, covers 6% of the Earth’s total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area.

With 1.0 billion people in 65 territories (including 54 recognized states), it accounts for about 14.72% of the world’s human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Africa straddles the equator and encompasses numerous climate areas; it is the only continent to stretch from the northern temperate to southern temperate zone.

Africa’s population is relatively young but has rapidly increased over the last 40 years. In some African states, half or more of the population is under 25 years of age. The total number of people in Africa grew from 221 million in 1950 to 1 billion in 2009.